WILLIAM RICHARD DEETS

1927 - 2018

William Richard Deets, (you probably knew him as Bill) entered eternal life on Sunday, February 11, 2018. His spirit is carried on by his wife Lois, his daughters and their husbands, grandchildren and spouses, thirteen great-grandchildren and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life. Bill was blessed with 90 happy and healthy years of life. He was born July 5, 1927 to H. Floyd and Myra Deets (nee Winter). As a child, he attended Grace Lutheran Grade School in Chicago, where he not only began a life of faith but also spotted the girl of his dreams. After serving in the Navy, in September of 1950, he won that girl of his dreams and married Lois Schultz, his loving partner and best friend until she, with grace, saw Bill received by the arms of God. Lois and Bill started their family shortly after that 1950 wedding and by 1956 had five daughters. As a draftsman at The Frank G. Hough-International Harvester Corp. in Libertyville, he was offered promotion after promotion. Never quite sure he was qualified for the next level, he took the challenge each time. After all - he had all those kids to provide for! Attaining engineer status through education and experience, he retired after a successful career with International Harvester. In addition to his success as a business leader, Bill was a devoted spouse and father. He and Lois shared the same values and they complimented each other in child-rearing. He was kind and gentle and through his actions demonstrated to his daughters what to look for in a man. Together they created a large, loving, honorable family. After moving to Mundelein in 1954, Bill and Lois joined St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods. Once again Bill was pushed to lead. Pastor Harold Krueger, who became Bill's life-long friend, called Bill to numerous positions within the church. Bill brought those skills to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rhinelander, WI where Bill and Lois enjoyed their retirement at their Five Sisters Resort. He is survived by his wife Lois, children and grandchildren: Janis (Dave Nowak) of Round Lake Park, IL; Joyce (Brian Abernathy) and sons Kyle (Abby) and Will (Amelia) of Sun Prairie, WI; Joanne (Mike D'Alton) of Sun Prairie, WI; Judith (Jim Fulghum), and children, Kelli (Dave), Joshua (Lena), Natilee, Mary (Brandon) and Sara, of Kenosha, WI; and Jackie (Mike Weaver) and children Dan (Kristine), Beth (Ricardo), and Jill, of Libertyville, IL; siblings Chuck (Arlene) Deets and Alice Dais and sister-in-law Rose Deets; and nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten. Bill is reunited with parents Floyd and Myra Deets, his brother Floyd, his brother-in-law Dan Dais and his very good friend Pastor Harold Krueger. Friends can visit with Bill's family at the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home Ltd., 120 W. Park Ave. (Route 176, one block west of Milwaukee Ave.), Libertyville on Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 1 until 4 p.m. with a prayer service at 4 p.m. In Bill's memory, donations may be made to the grade school that connected him with Jesus and where he met his wife, Lois. Grace is a community of teachers, staff, and administrators, students and parents, alumni and donors, churches and organizations that all come together to make quality Christian education in Chicago's "Little Village" area possible. Send donations to Grace Christian Academy, 4106 W. 28th Street, Chicago, IL 60623 or donate on line at http://www.gcachicago.org/donate.html. Info, 847-362-3009 or please sign the on-line guest book at www.burnettdane.com.